Lamborghini Shelves Electric Car Plans, Calls Lanzador EV An 'Expensive Hobby'

Three years ago Lamborghini unveiled an electric car in a concept form hinting at the brand's electric future. Initially, the plans were to launch the production version of the model by 2028. In 2024, the Sant'Agata Bolognese manufacturer delayed the plans to 2029. Come 2026 and the brand is backing away from producing a fully electric model leaning on plug-in hybrids. In a new update, the all-electric Lanzador has been shelved showing the brand's to continue with fossil fuel powered supercars.

Confirmed by Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann, the raging bull will continue to use the V8s or V12s, cancelling the Lanzador. The decision has been taken citing "close to zero" interest, as reported by the Sunday Times. Talking more on the subject he cautioned that going all-electric could turn into an "expensive hobby" noting that the "acceptance curve" for such vehicles among Lamborghini's clientele is very low.

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Winkelmann stated that consumers of Lamborghini vehicles are still seeking the complete "emotional experience," which encompasses the design, performance, and, importantly, the sound. In his opinion, this is an aspect that electric vehicles currently cannot replicate. Therefore, for the time being, combustion engines are still very much part of the lineup and will keep being produced "for as long as possible."

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The Sunday Times quotes Winkelmann saying, "Investing heavily in full-EV development when the market and customer base are not ready would be an expensive hobby, and financially irresponsible towards shareholders, customers [and] to our employees and their families. Plug-in hybrids offer the best of both worlds, combining the agility and low-rev boost of electric battery technology with the emotion and power output of an internal combustion engine.

Currently, Lamborghini has a lineup brimming with hybrid cars like the Urus, Temerario and Revuelto. The plan to use electricity with a combustion engine seems to be working for the brand with record sales in the last year. The Urus SUV became a key contributor to these numbers leading the charge for the brand.